DRAGON CLUBS & AFFINITY GROUPS
“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
O’Dowd’s culture actively celebrates the multiplicity of gifts, talents, passions and potential each student brings to our community. Our clubs and affinity groups offer a rich expanse of opportunities for students to nurture their interests, build deep friendships, explore their skills, develop their identity, and connect to O’Dowd’s mission and values.
60+
Student Clubs
5
Affinity Groups
10+
Cultural Clubs

Student Affinity Groups
Our Affinity Groups offer a space for students and staff to build community and connections with others who share their racial identity. In Affinity Groups, members gain fellowship, share experiences, and develop skills around race and cross-racial dialogue. Our Affinity groups include Black/African American, Latinx, Asian American & Pacific Islander, Multiracial, and White Students Against Racism
Family Affinity Days
Every fall semester, O'Dowd hosts racial affinity days for families. With unique celebrations for African-American, Latino & Hispanic, Asian-American & Pacific Islander families, these are a fun time to build community and enjoy food and activities reflective of the many cultures that shape O'Dowd. It's also an opportunity to foster connections with O'Dowd faculty and staff! We know that over 20% of our students identify as multi-racial, and we encourage participation in as many Family Days as you like.


Student Clubs
Spark your curiosity by joining a fun club! With opportunities ranging from cultural identity, social justice, academics, the arts, lifestyle and more, clubs at O’Dowd support students to explore their interests, discover their strengths, build lasting friendships, and tap into their greater purpose
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9th Grade - Discover and ExploreWhen students enter O’Dowd, our counselors help them adjust to high school, begin goal setting, and become self-advocates. Students also begin the important process of resume building: recording the narrative journey of their experience which they update through all four year at O’Dowd.
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10th Grade - Explore and EngageCounselors guide students in a self-reflective process that asks: Who do I want to be? What do I want to explore? To support future planning, students attend our “Getting Ready for College'' and “College Fair” events. In addition, students learn time management and stress reduction strategies, and prepare for the PSAT.
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11th Grade - Engage, Research, and PlanAs students enter their junior year, our counselors lead them through still deeper futures planning. Students in this phase start to differentiate themselves, asking: Who AM I? Who do I want to become? Throughout the year, our counselors support students to understand the college admissions process (including financial aid), begin to research colleges of interest, attend “Career Day,” and also engage in other key preparation, including taking the PSAT and creating a comprehensive high school resume.
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12th Grade - Plan, Apply, Choose and CelebrateWhen they reach their senior year, students work closely with their counselors to discern which next steps are right for them, which could range from traditional college to alternative pathways, including a gap year. Counselors guide students in their college applications, including advising on essays, financial aid, gathering letters of recommendation, and NCAA registration. In addition, the Counseling Department hosts a series of programs just for seniors, including a series of required College Flex Supports, our Essay Writing Workshop, Senior and Family College Night, and drop-in Flex Supports.
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9th Grade - Discover and ExploreWhen students enter O’Dowd, our counselors help them adjust to high school, begin goal setting, and become self-advocates. Students also begin the important process of resume building: recording the narrative journey of their experience which they update through all four year at O’Dowd.
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10th Grade - Explore and EngageCounselors guide students in a self-reflective process that asks: Who do I want to be? What do I want to explore? To support future planning, students attend our “Getting Ready for College'' and “College Fair” events. In addition, students learn time management and stress reduction strategies, and prepare for the PSAT.
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11th Grade - Engage, Research, and PlanAs students enter their junior year, our counselors lead them through still deeper futures planning. Students in this phase start to differentiate themselves, asking: Who AM I? Who do I want to become? Throughout the year, our counselors support students to understand the college admissions process (including financial aid), begin to research colleges of interest, attend “Career Day,” and also engage in other key preparation, including taking the PSAT and creating a comprehensive high school resume.
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12th Grade - Plan, Apply, Choose and CelebrateWhen they reach their senior year, students work closely with their counselors to discern which next steps are right for them, which could range from traditional college to alternative pathways, including a gap year. Counselors guide students in their college applications, including advising on essays, financial aid, gathering letters of recommendation, and NCAA registration. In addition, the Counseling Department hosts a series of programs just for seniors, including a series of required College Flex Supports, our Essay Writing Workshop, Senior and Family College Night, and drop-in Flex Supports.
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9th Grade - Discover and ExploreWhen students enter O’Dowd, our counselors help them adjust to high school, begin goal setting, and become self-advocates. Students also begin the important process of resume building: recording the narrative journey of their experience which they update through all four year at O’Dowd.
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10th Grade - Explore and EngageCounselors guide students in a self-reflective process that asks: Who do I want to be? What do I want to explore? To support future planning, students attend our “Getting Ready for College'' and “College Fair” events. In addition, students learn time management and stress reduction strategies, and prepare for the PSAT.
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11th Grade - Engage, Research, and PlanAs students enter their junior year, our counselors lead them through still deeper futures planning. Students in this phase start to differentiate themselves, asking: Who AM I? Who do I want to become? Throughout the year, our counselors support students to understand the college admissions process (including financial aid), begin to research colleges of interest, attend “Career Day,” and also engage in other key preparation, including taking the PSAT and creating a comprehensive high school resume.
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12th Grade - Plan, Apply, Choose and CelebrateWhen they reach their senior year, students work closely with their counselors to discern which next steps are right for them, which could range from traditional college to alternative pathways, including a gap year. Counselors guide students in their college applications, including advising on essays, financial aid, gathering letters of recommendation, and NCAA registration. In addition, the Counseling Department hosts a series of programs just for seniors, including a series of required College Flex Supports, our Essay Writing Workshop, Senior and Family College Night, and drop-in Flex Supports.
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9th Grade - Discover and ExploreWhen students enter O’Dowd, our counselors help them adjust to high school, begin goal setting, and become self-advocates. Students also begin the important process of resume building: recording the narrative journey of their experience which they update through all four year at O’Dowd.
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10th Grade - Explore and EngageCounselors guide students in a self-reflective process that asks: Who do I want to be? What do I want to explore? To support future planning, students attend our “Getting Ready for College'' and “College Fair” events. In addition, students learn time management and stress reduction strategies, and prepare for the PSAT.
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11th Grade - Engage, Research, and PlanAs students enter their junior year, our counselors lead them through still deeper futures planning. Students in this phase start to differentiate themselves, asking: Who AM I? Who do I want to become? Throughout the year, our counselors support students to understand the college admissions process (including financial aid), begin to research colleges of interest, attend “Career Day,” and also engage in other key preparation, including taking the PSAT and creating a comprehensive high school resume.
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12th Grade - Plan, Apply, Choose and CelebrateWhen they reach their senior year, students work closely with their counselors to discern which next steps are right for them, which could range from traditional college to alternative pathways, including a gap year. Counselors guide students in their college applications, including advising on essays, financial aid, gathering letters of recommendation, and NCAA registration. In addition, the Counseling Department hosts a series of programs just for seniors, including a series of required College Flex Supports, our Essay Writing Workshop, Senior and Family College Night, and drop-in Flex Supports.

Starr Gray '98, Director of Student Activities
Originally from Oakland, Starr graduated from O’Dowd in 1998 and went on to earn a BA in Radio, TV and Film from Cal State Northridge. She loves supporting young people to reveal their creativity.